Best New Ski Lift (2011)

The new Black Mountain Express at Arapahoe Basin represents the end of an era for the 65-year-old no-frills ski area, where the old A-frame lodge and parking-lot beach parties are still just as skiers have always loved them. In this case, it's a change for the best: The high-speed quad replaces the circa 1978 Exhibition lift and cuts the old fixed-grip triple chair's trip time to the top in half. But the truly hard-core among A-Basin fans don't need no stinkin' lift: The Full-Moon Snowshoe Dinner series at Black Mountain Lodge (elevation: 11, 500') with chef Christopher Rybak sold out months in advance for the entire season.